Tainio makes Ajax move

Sunderland release Finn to sign one-year deal in Amsterdam

Last updated: 31st August 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tainio makes Ajax move

Tainio: Fresh start

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Teemu Tainio has signed a one-year deal with Ajax after being released by Sunderland.

Tainio's contract with the Premier League outfit was terminated by mutual consent on transfer deadline day, allowing the Finland international to move to Holland.

The 30-year-old midfielder will be reunited in Amsterdam with Martin Jol, who signed Tainio for Tottenham in 2005.

The ex-Spurs coach kept tabs on Tainio after leaving White Hart Lane in 2007 and thanked Sunderland for helping the move go through.

"I am very happy we could strength our squad on the final day of the international transfer market," the Ajax boss told the club's official website.

A winner

"Teemu is someone who can do his job in the midfield. He is a winner, a player with a good mentality. I have worked with him at Tottenham Hotspur and continued to follow him.

"I am happy the board at Sunderland was willing to co-operate despite a running deal with Teemu. Therefore it was possible for us to sign Teemu."

Tainio made 83 appearances in three years with Spurs before leaving for Sunderland in 2008 for an undisclosed fee.

But the versatile Finn, who has made 51 international appearances, played just 22 games for the Black Cats before going on loan to Birmingham last season.

Tainio now has the opportunity to face former club Auxerre in the UEFA Champions League group stage, where Ajax have also been drawn against giants AC Milan and Real Madrid.

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